Jorgenson, Hibbard, Tow, Trotter Win Open Wheel Showcase Races

White City, Oregon...May 26...Bailey Hibbard oudueled his father David Hibbard to win the 25 lap Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Car Main Event Saturday night Southern Oregon Speedway. It was young Bailey's fifth career win at Southern Oregon Speedway and came aboard his Dave's Carpet And Vinyl Liquidators sponsored Sprinter. David Hibbard settled for a second place finish ahead of Washington visitor Eric Turner. The Sprint Cars were part of the big 2nd Annual Open Wheel Showcase Event.

In heat race action, 62 year old Calvin Hibbard surprised his son and his grandson by winning his first ever eight lap race. It was an all Hibbard affair at the front as son David finished second and grandson Bailey finished third. Enrique Jaime won his second straight heat race ahead of Turner. Bailey Hibbard made sure to have the pole position for the Main Event as he held off Turner and Merissa Henson to win the six lap Scramble.

Bailey Hibbard set the pace from the start of the Main Event with Turner running second. Aaron Miller spun in Turn 3 for a lap one caution flag. Bailey Hibbard continued to lead Turner and David Hibbard on restart, but David Hibbard made a back stretch pass on Turner to gain second on lap two. A yellow flag flew on lap four for Todd Whipple in Turn 3. Bailey Hibbard continued to lead David Hibbard and Turner on the restart. As the race ran a few laps under green, David Hibbard begin to pressure Bailey for the lead, while Merissa Henson was giving Turner all the pressure he could handle in the battle for third. Miller spun in Turn 3 for a lap 15 caution flag and made a pit stop. He was able to rejoin the field two laps later after a caution flag flew for debris on the track. The slowdowns didn't stop Bailey Hibbard. He bolted ahead again when the race restarted and led the final four laps to score a well earned victory. David Hibbard settled for second ahead of Turner. Jeffrey Hudson made a late charge past Henson for fourth as Henson settled for fifth, followed by Ryan Cully, Blaine Cory, Whipple, Miller and Jaime.

The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars return on June 16th as part of a packed lineup that includes IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Valley Stor-All Late Model Lites and OTRO Hardtops. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...May 26...With his father making the trip south to race with the Northwest Focus Midgets, Guy Tow decided To bring his Dwarf Car to the track as well. Tow was rewarded as he drove a brilliant race to score the victory in the 20 lap Main Event. The Dwarf Cars were part of the event that was billed as the Open Wheel Showcase.

The Dwarf Cars had an even bigger turnout than last time with 21 competitors signed in to race, but Josh King still had problems with his car and once again jumped into the Jerry Hauck machine. He drove that car to a win in the second heat race, followed by ageless veteran Fred Hay. Camden Robustelli won the first heat ahead of Cody Peters, and Mason Lewman outran Brock Peters to win the third heat. Brock Peters came back to outrun Robustelli in the six lap A Dash, and Ryan Smith was the B Dash winner, followed by Tow.

Tow set the early Main Event pace ahead of Hay, but Lewman and Chad Cardoza shuffled Hay out of the Top 3 a lap later. The flying Tow was working lapped traffic by lap six as Brock Peters moved up to challenge Cardoza for third. Tow saw his straightaway lead over Lewman wiped out by a lap 13 caution flag for a Joe Sanders spin. There were two yellow flags to follow during the next two laps before the lap 15 restart saw Ryan Smith settle into third behind Tow and Lewman. Cardoza was still holding fourth at that point as King worked his way into fifth. Tow set a good pace and brought it home to a satisfying victory ahead of Lewman, Smith, Cardoza, King, Brock Peters, Robustelli, Hay, Randy Slater and Sanders.

Southern Oregon Dwarf Cars are a part of this Saturday's big 6th Annual Roger Haudensheld Tribute Race. Also on the card are the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Calculated Comfort Outlaw Pro Stocks, Late Models and JOAT Labs Hornets. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.

White City, Oregon...May 26...The Northwest Focus Midgets returned to Southern Oregon Speedway for their lone appearance of the season and brought a big 30 car Field. The Open Wheel Showcase event was not only their Salute To Indy race, sponsored by All About Metal and Winningham Racing, it was also part of the big Summer Series for the Northwest Focus Midgets that takes them to six different tracks for 10 events. When the checkered flag flew on the rapidly paced 25 lap Main Event, it was Jonathan Jorgenson scoring an impressive victory ahead of defending race champion and series champion Tristin Thomas.

The field was divided into four eight lap heat races, and it was Garrett Thomas winning the first heat ahead of Alden Ostrom. The second eight lap race went to Evan Margeson followed by Hannah Lindquist. Chris Green won the third heat ahead Tristin Thomas. Thomas had won the opener for the Summer Series at Grays Harbor. Eric Turner won the final heat ahead of Ross Rankine. The group ran two dash races. It was Matt Loving winning the four lap A Dash and Jorgenson collecting the victory in the four lap B Dash. With such a huge field of competitors, the final four spots of the Main Event would be filled by the Top 4 finishers of the 15 lap B Main. It was 2016 Series champion Nick Evans winning that race, followed by Jeremiah Franklin, Guy Tow Sr and Glenn Bittrolf.

After standing introductions where the racers got out of their cars for the fans to see them, the battle was on to see who would make it to Victory Circle and the opportunity to drink the jug of milk, as is tradition after the Indianapolis 500. The race had a rough start as Franklin, Evans, Jesse Conway and Shane Biles got together in Turns 1 and 2 with Biles rolling. Biles and Evans were eliminated in the melee. After another yellow flag botched the next restart, Tristin Thomas bolted ahead on the next restart, followed by Eric Turner and Matt Loving. Jorgenson slipped past Loving for third on lap 2 and took second from Turner a lap later. Jorgenson began to pressure Thomas for the lead and put the moves on him to grab first on lap nine. As Jorgenson began to build up the momentum, Garrett Thomas moved into third and set his sights on Tristin Thomas. Jorgenson was already in lapped traffic by lap 10, but even the slower cars could not slow his pace. He made all the right moves In a race that was destined to go caution free for the remaining laps. Jorgenson took the checkered flag by a wide margin. Tristin Thomas settled for second ahead of Garrett Thomas, Turner, Evan Margeson, Hannah Lindquist, Chris Greene, Nik Larson, Chris Bullock and Shane Smith.

The Focus Midgets will have a two race weekend at Deming Speedway on June 1st and Skagit Speedway a night later, but the next Summer Series race will be at Grays Harbor Raceway on June 9th. You can find more information at www.northwestfocusmidgets.com or like their very informative Northwest Focus Midget Series Facebook page.

White City, Oregon...May 26...Dusty Trotter scored the victory in the 20 lap OTRO Hardtop Main Event Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway. The Hardtops were a part of the special Open Wheel Showcase Event, and this was Trotter's second start in his new car. He gained the lead when leader Justin Krossman spun on lap 15 and led the remaining laps for the victory. Krossman is driving the car that Trotter has campaigned for the past two seasons.

Krossman started the night by winning the eight lap heat race ahead of Mark Minter. It was Jay Smith driving Bill Trotter's truck to the four lap Trophy Dash win ahead of Bill Trotter. Krossman charged into the lead at the start of the Main Event ahead of Dusty Trotter and recent Cottage Grove winner Jamie Britton. Britton slipped past Trotter for second on lap three and was trailing Krossman by a straightaway at that point. A Britton spin in Turn 4 of the sixth lap gained Dusty Trotter the second position, and he set his sights on Krossman. Britton spun again and lost third to Smith on lap 12, and Crossman did a solo spin in Turn 3 for a lap 15 yellow flag. Suddenly, Dusty Trotter found himself leading. Dusty Trotter led Jay Smith and Minter on restart. Smith gave Trotter a good run down the stretch, but Trotter held him off for the victory. Minter settled for third ahead of Britton, Bill Trotter, Chris Mehrer and Krossman.

The Hardtops return on June 16th as part of a packed program that will include the Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks and Valley Store-All Late Model Litee\s. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.